Starr Aspen Project Final Environmental Assessment (FEA)a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · Starr Aspen Project Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) Appendix C

Starr Aspen Project Final Environmental Assessment (FEA)

Appendix C – Project Design Criteria

Blue Mountain Ranger District Malheur National Forest

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FEA Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Starr Aspen Project

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Contents

Appendix C.1 – Project Design Criteria .......................................................................................... 1 Appendix C.2 – Project Design Criteria for Mechanical Work by Heavy Equipment within the RHCAs for Aspen Units in the Starr Aspen Project (Commercial Removal and Aquatic Restoration Placement) .................................................................................................................. 12

Servicing and Refueling Equipment ......................................................................................... 12 Treatments Requiring Access through RHCAs ........................................................................ 12

Access through the Active Floodplain .................................................................................. 12 Access outside the Active Floodplain in all RHCAs ............................................................. 13

Treatments within the RHCA Active Floodplain ...................................................................... 13 Aspen Restoration with Commercial Removal ..................................................................... 13 Aspen Restoration with Non-commercial Removal .............................................................. 14 Machine Piling Related to Pre-commercial Treatments ........................................................ 14 Commercial Treatment of Fuel Loads Relating to Large Fires ............................................. 14 Commercial Treatments for Riparian Enhancement ............................................................. 14

Treatments within the RHCA outside the Active Floodplain but within the INFISH RHCA Boundaries (Category 1 and 2) ................................................................................................. 14

Aspen Restoration with Commercial Removal ..................................................................... 15 Machine Piling and Piles ....................................................................................................... 15 Commercial Treatment of Fuel Loads Relating to Large Fires ............................................. 15 Commercial Treatments for Riparian Enhancement ............................................................. 15

Non-mechanical Work within the RHCAs ............................................................................... 15 Treatments within the Active Floodplain .............................................................................. 15 Treatments within the RHCA outside of the Active Floodplain ........................................... 16

Appendix C.3 – Additional Project Design Criteria and General Aquatic Conservation Measures ....................................................................................................................................................... 18

Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................ 18 Project Categories that Apply to Activities within the Starr Aspen Project Area ..................... 18 General Aquatic Conservation Measures .................................................................................. 18

Technical Skill and Planning Requirements .......................................................................... 18 In-Water Work Period ........................................................................................................... 19 Fish Passage .......................................................................................................................... 19 Pollution and Erosion Control Measures ............................................................................... 19 Site Preparation ..................................................................................................................... 20 Heavy Equipment Use ........................................................................................................... 20 Site Restoration ..................................................................................................................... 21 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 22

Project Design Criteria for Aquatic Restoration Activity Categories ARBO II ....................... 22 Fish Passage Restoration ....................................................................................................... 22 Large Wood, Boulder, and Gravel Placement ....................................................................... 24 Legacy Structure Removal .................................................................................................... 25 Livestock Fencing, Stream Crossings and Off-Channel Livestock Watering Facilities ....... 26 Riparian Vegetation Treatment (controlled burning) ............................................................ 27 Riparian Vegetation Planting ................................................................................................ 28 Beaver Habitat Restoration .................................................................................................... 28

Tables

Table C-1. Project design criteria to be applied during implementation ......................................... 1


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Appendix C.1 – Project Design Criteria Project design features are an integral part of each action alternative and serve to mitigate impacts of activities on resource areas. In addition to best management practices (BMPs) and legal requirements, these measures would be applied during implementation (Table C-1).

Table C-1. Project design criteria to be applied during implementation

# Project design criteria Applies to

Soils

1 Keep soil impacts as small as practical (as determined by the line officer), especially long-lasting impacts; and keep cumulative detrimental soil impacts to less than 20% of the area of each unit. The following design elements apply to biomass removal as well as logging operations.

All activities

2 For harvesting with low ground-pressure harvesters and forwarders, the following design elements apply:

Forwarders shall have a maximum of 12.0 pounds/square inch. Forwarder trails shall be spaced a minimum of 50 feet apart, center to

center. The machinery will be operated only when the soil is not wet. (For

forwarders "wet" means when ruts would be 3 inches or deeper on a continuous 50 feet or more of forwarder trails.)

The machinery will be operated only on slopes of 35% or less, except for short distances.

Harvest activities

3 For stream, meadow, and wetland restoration projects involving heavy machinery off roads, personnel shall inspect the site for existing impacts to the soil. If existing impacts appear to be heavy, they shall contact a soil scientist, who shall determine what site-specific project design criteria are necessary to meet Malheur Forest Plan standards. (If a soil scientist is not available, a silviculturist or hydrologist can do the work.) If standards and guidelines cannot be met, heavy machinery shall not be used.

Stream, meadow, and wetland restoration activities

4 No heavy equipment shall be allowed on inclusions of highly erodible soil. “Inclusions of highly erodible soil” generally means areas larger than 50 feet diameter, and either 1) steeper than 30%, with less than 75% ground cover, 2) steeper than 20% with less than 50% ground cover, or steeper than 10% with less than 25% ground cover. A soils specialist can approve exceptions (either stricter or less strict).

Harvest activities

5 Grapple piling shall be done with low ground pressure (< 8.5 psi) on dry, frozen, or snow covered soil, and machinery will stay on existing skid trails where possible. “Dry” means July through September, or obviously dry in the top 4 inches during other months. “Frozen” means frozen to a depth of 4 inches or more. “Snow covered” means sufficient snow strength and depth to prevent soil disturbance and compaction.

Slash treatment (grapple piling)

6 Skid trail locations shall be designated and approved prior to logging. On areas where existing skid trails spaced 100–140 feet apart can be reused, reuse the old skid trails. Otherwise, space skid trails about 120 feet apart where practical, using existing skid trails where possible and appropriate. Skid trails should average less than 14 feet wide.

Harvest activities (skid trails)

7 Draw bottoms are not appropriate for skidding. If the only way to log a particular part of a unit is to skid in the draw bottom, that part of the unit will be excluded from harvest.

Harvest activities (skidding)

8 Avoid downhill skidding on slopes steeper than 35%, where feasible, using directional felling and tractor winching. There shall be no downhill skidding on slopes steeper than 45% for more than 40 feet.



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9 Avoid skidding uphill for more than 40 feet on slopes steeper than 35%. Harvest activities (skidding)

10 No skidding will be done under wet soil conditions, when ruts six inches or deeper would form on a continuous 50 feet or more of skid trails.


11 Reuse existing landings where feasible and where they are away from shallow soil areas and ephemeral draws unless approved by a hydrologist, soil scientist or fisheries biologist.

Harvest activities (landings)

12 Skidders shall not be allowed off skid trails unless the soil is frozen or other conditions approved by a soil scientist. Directional felling and/or winching shall be used when necessary. Low ground-pressure equipment (<8.5 psi) can be allowed off skid trails under, dry, frozen, or snow covered conditions.

Harvest activities (landings and skidding)

13 Runoff and erosion from skid trails, and tractor-winch furrows shall be controlled by the use of cross drains or comparable measures. Outfalls of the cross drains shall be clear and located on soil where water will infiltrate, not on shallow or impermeable soil. Cross drains on skid trails should be spaced appropriately for the terrain.

Harvest activities (skid trails

14 Malheur Forest Plan ground cover standards shall be met when conducting prescribed burning. Slash shall not be dozer piled, unless the soil scientist determines that Malheur Forest Plan soil quality standards would be met.

Prescribed burning

15 Prescribed fire control lines shall not be built down draw bottoms. Prescribed burning

Watershed

16 Apply all applicable BMPs listed in General Water Quality Best Management Practices (USFS Pacific NW Region, 1988). Full descriptions of each BMP are found in the Watershed specialist report and the implementation plan.

All project activities

17 Riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) for Category 1, 2, and 4 streams and Category 3 and 4 wetlands shall be consistent with INFISH.


18 Equipment may be permitted to cross ephemeral draws at designated crossings. If skidding across draw bottoms that show signs of water flow, skid only when the soil in the draw is dry, frozen, or adequately snow-packed and place slash or other ground cover on the skid trail after use with approval of aquatic specialist.


19 Restore drainage structures on haul roads to pre-haul condition following completion of haul. Install adequate drainage on haul roads at completion of haul where baseline road surface conditions have been altered by haul.

Road maintenance for harvest activities

20 For road haul occurring during normal operating season, return drainage structures to pre-haul condition at completion of haul, at a minimum, and either cease haul or install and maintain adequate drainage during periods of atypical runoff or wet soils. When haul occurs outside normal operating season, install and maintain drainage structures (with energy dissipation, if needed) that are adequate to control seasonally typical runoff, recognizing the wide range of conditions typical of the local climate. This includes maintaining positive drainage for snowmelt that may be intercepted by haul roads.


21 If haul over snow is anticipated, maintain or install adequate drainage prior to packing snow to control melt-off throughout the snowmelt season (which may begin as early as January) because packing snow to facilitate haul may alter melt-off patterns and re-direct runoff originating upslope.


22 Complete activities associated with removal, replacement, improvement or addition of culverts in RHCAs and ephemeral draws during dry conditions or after consultation with fish biologist and hydrologist or their designate. Cease all work if storm events occur and increase stream flows. Control sediment during installation and removal of culverts using approved erosion control practices.

Culvert replacement


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23 Space cross drains and other drainage structures on roads and skid trails appropriately for the terrain. In RHCAs, especially on slopes greater than 10%, place cross drains no further apart than five vertical feet. Alternatively, with the approval of the hydrologist, soil scientist, or designate, slash may be used to provide roughness on skid trails in RHCAs.

Road maintenance for harvest activities and skidding

24 For roadwork, operate machinery only on road prism. Road maintenance for harvest activities

25 During servicing or refueling of equipment, pollutants shall not be allowed to enter any waterway, riparian area, or stream course. Where possible, select service and refueling areas outside of RHCAs and well away from wet areas and surface water. If fueling and servicing must occur within the RHCA, it must occur on the uphill side of the road, above the active floodplain. Spill prevention, containment and countermeasures plans are required for all fueling and service activities that occur within the RHCAs above the road. The project contract administrator shall designate the location, size and allowable uses of service and refueling areas. The contract administrator shall be aware of actions to be taken in case of a hazardous substance spill.


26 The contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of all National Forest soil and water. Equipment operators shall maximize the recovery and proper disposal of all fuels, fluids, lubricants, empty containers and replacement parts. Refuse resulting from the contractor’s use, servicing, repair or abandonment of equipment shall be removed from National Forest System lands by the contractor to the appropriate disposal facilities.


27 Grapple or other machine piling shall not occur in RHCAs or MA-3A. Handpile slash within RHCAs and MA-3A; when burning piles, do not permit full consumption without approval by aquatics specialist.

Slash treatment (grapple and hand piling)

28 Incorporate unit-specific design elements and BMPs as described below to RHCAs and MA-3A:

Leave on-site sufficient trees to meet Malheur Forest Plan standards for large woody debris. Trees may be felled if considered hazard trees but not removed.

Operate only when soils are dry, frozen, or covered with adequate snowpack.

Place coarse woody material above, below, and at designated crossings of ephemeral draws.

Block access to skid trails. Rehabilitate ground disturbances from activities such as skid trails, roads, and landings to disconnect the disturbance from the floodplain in order to retain the baseline buffering ability of the RHCA outside of the active floodplain. Rehabilitation activities may include re-contouring, “smoothing out” displaced soil or rutted areas, placement of slash, waterbars, rolling dips for roads, and seeding.

Where skidding occurs 200 or more feet from the road, install 3 to 5 waterbars closely spaced at a location where the outfalls of the cross drains are clear and on soil where water will infiltrate.

Maintain conifer trees providing stream bank stability (usually identified as where the crown radius intersects the stream bank). These trees can be included as leave trees described in the silviculture prescription. They are in addition to those needed to meet large woody debris standards.

Control burning of hand or other piles in aspen stands and buffers to prevent full consumption of the bottom layer of coarse woody material in order to provide ground cover.


29 Do not skid within 25 feet of the streambank. Designate skid trails prior to use. Operate only under dry or frozen conditions as described above under Soils. Space skid trails as determined by the soil scientist. Do not locate skid trails on slopes greater than 25%.

Harvest activities (skidding) in RHCAs


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30 A combination of the following or similar practices shall be used to control erosion, interrupt connections with legacy conditions and discourage access at completion of skidding: place coarse woody material on about 50% of skid trail area (evenly distributed), water bar, or seed skid trails located in RHCAs and block access.


31 The locations of skid trail crossings of Category 4 streams shall be pre-approved by the project hydrologist or soil specialist or their designate. Crossings are expected to be located at an approximate rate of about 3 per 1200 feet of stream. Streambanks shall be returned to pre-skidding shape and adequate dead ground cover placed on them. Approaches to crossings shall be water barred and ground cover (dead woody or litter) shall be placed to meet Malheur Forest Plan standards for about 50 feet either side or above the toeslope, whichever is greater, OR an aquatic or soils specialist may approve similar practices. Place coarse woody material at the crossings and up- and down-stream for about 50 feet each direction at the rate of about 200 pieces/mile.


32 The locations of skid trail crossings through INFISH Category 3 or Category 4 wetlands and their associated RHCAs as shown on the National Wetland Inventory layer in the Malheur National Forest GIS or as observed on the ground shall be pre-approved by the project hydrologist, soil scientist, or their designate. Generally, these shall be located on the drier areas located within mosaics of wetlands and moist to dry meadows or in areas that dry out seasonally; other crossings may be used if pre-approved and protected by site and condition-specific mitigations. Dry is defined as areas that will not rut when equipment travels over them. Waterbar, replace ground cover, and place coarse woody material as described for crossings of Category 4 streams above.

Harvest activities (skidding) in RHCAs and wetlands

33 Travel ways used by equipment used to either push over or move trees within or through INFISH Category 3 or Category 4 wetlands and their associated RHCAs as shown on the National Wetland Inventory layer in the Malheur National Forest GIS or as observed on the ground shall be pre-approved by the project hydrologist, soil scientist or their designate. Generally, these shall be located on the drier areas located within mosaics of wetlands and moist to dry meadows or in areas that dry out seasonally; travel may occur in other locations if pre-approved and protected by site and condition-specific mitigations. Dry is defined as areas that will not rut when equipment travels over them. Any displacement or other disturbance shall be smoothed out. Waterbar, replace ground cover, and place coarse woody material as described for crossings of Category 4 streams above.

All project activities within RHCAs and wetlands

34 Any bank alteration or channel degradation will be returned to baseline conditions. It is expected that the baseline bank stability (including bank angle and cross-section), width:depth gradient and longitudinal gradient will be retained. Return banks and channels at skid trail crossings to pre-skid condition by re-shaping, placement of dead ground cover, and other applicable practices approved by the project hydrologist, fish biologist, soil scientist or designate. In addition, seed these segments of skid trail to accelerate establishment of live ground cover.


35 Retain floodplain function and integrity including the natural contours. It is expected that both the floodplain quality and density of vegetative ground cover will return to baseline conditions within one year and the natural contours of the floodplain will be retained. Disturbance from mechanical activities will be rehabbed to assure any erosion potential from the disturbance is disconnected from the channel in order to retain the function and integrity of the channel floodplain by placing sufficient dead ground cover, including slash and fines such as needles, to meet Malheur Forest Plan standards on disturbed areas such as skid trails on either side of stream crossings within RHCAs; use a mix of material to provide both coarser “roughness” elements and fines such as needles.

All project activities within RHCAs


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36 Rehabilitate disturbance from mechanical activities to assure any erosion potential from the disturbance is disconnected from the steam channel to retain the function and integrity of the active floodplain. Minimize loss of canopy cover by using existing openings, roads, and skid trails.


37 Locate landings outside active floodplains. Limit landing size along each stream segment to an average of ¼ acre in size with maximum size of ½ acre. A fisheries or hydrology specialist may approve landings greater than an acre in situations where it would reduce the overall impact to the drainage and the total disturbance remains less than 10%. Ground disturbance from activities such as skid trails, roads, and landings will be rehabilitated to disconnect the erosion potential from the floodplain and to retain the buffering ability of the RHCA outside the active floodplain. Rehabilitation activities may include re-contouring, placement of slash, waterbars, rolling dips for roads, seeding, etc.

Harvest activities (landings)

38 Conifer removal from aspen stands may occur:

Once the associated reach has a minimum of pieces of large wood per mile identified; with each piece being >12 inches diameter and >35 feet in length (20% of pieces being 20 inches in diameter) or the number associated with conifers ranging in diameter from 6 to 12 inches has been added to the active stream channel. Priority is given to meeting the LWD criteria >12 inches >35 feet in length and 20% of pieces being 20 inches in diameter before utilizing smaller diameter trees to meet LWD standards.

Where a benefit from the restoration is identified for each associated reach in regards to its RHCA. Examples could include an increase in deciduous leaf litter, bank root strength, or canopy cover; improved fire resistance, increased fish habitat and active channel complexity or an increase in vegetative ground cover with return of baseline canopy cover.

If the tree is not providing bank stability (usually identified as where the crown radius intersects the stream bank) and LWD requirements for the active channel associated with the aspen stand have been met.

Harvest activities and LWD placement

39 Conifers within aspen units providing bank stability may be felled if it is determined that adequate vegetation in the form of riparian hardwoods and hydric sedges are present to stabilize banks in the short term and the felling of the conifer will facilitate aspen clone regeneration within the exposed area.

Harvest activities in RHCAs

40 If small diameter conifers (6 to12 inches) are all that is present within the aspen unit along the active stream channel, the number of conifers required to meet INFISH LWD standards identified in appendix A, Table 3 should be doubled.

LWD placement in all RHCAs

41 Conifers felled within the active channel preferably will not be limbed; however, if fuels build up is an issue, trees may be limbed and piled outside the active floodplain or disbursed within the stream channel and only the tree bole left to interact with the active channel and floodplain.

LWD placement in all RHCAs

42 No hand piling will occur within 50 feet of the active channel. Piles would be located where there is adequate buffer to filter potential ash and sediment from the piles to the channel during a normal high run-off event. Where possible, retain large wood that is at least 1.5 time longer than bankfull channel width and has an end diameter of 12 inches or greater.

Slash treatment (hand piling)

43 Minimize damage to riparian hardwoods greater than 5 feet in height. All project activities

44 If small diameter conifers (6 to12 inches) are all that is present within the aspen unit along the active stream channel, the number of conifers required to meet INFISH LWD standards identified in appendix A, tables 3-6 should be doubled.



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45 Within the active floodplain of the associated reach, the retained shade/canopy closure over the drainage should be, on average, greater than 30% for category 1 through 4 RHCAs. All boles greater than 1.5 times bankfull in length and 12 inches in diameter will be retained within categories1 through 2 RHCAs, unless LWD standards are met and a tree is left within the active floodplain every 40 to 75 feet for future LWD recruitment where trees fall within tree height of the stream in forested riparian areas.


46 Equipment used to tip trees for placement in streams or riparian areas, for stockpiling, or for similar use shall first use the arm/bucket or similar attachment to break roots generally no more than 15 feet away from the bole, if necessary, to facilitate removal of the root wad and to limit ground disturbance.

Tree tipping

47 Area of mineral soil exposed by tree tipping and removal of tree, including root wad, shall be smoothed, as necessary, and dead forest ground cover from adjacent areas shall be placed across the exposed mineral soil to promote infiltration and control concentration of overland flow and erosion.

Tree tipping

Wildlife

48 In general, no activities are allowed within northern goshawk post-fledging areas (PFAs) or within ½ mile of an occupied goshawk nest site from April 1–Sept 30. No timing restrictions apply to unoccupied nest sites. In order to accommodate the fisheries resource in-stream work window timeframe, goshawk timing restrictions will be adjusted for five (5) aspen treatment units located within two (2) goshawk PFAs. Units will be assessed by a staff wildlife biologist prior to treatment activities. Treatment time frame for units within goshawk PFAs may also be adjusted after occupancy site visits, on a site-by-site basis.


49 The district wildlife biologist will be consulted if any raptor nest is discovered prior to or during project implementation. Nests will be flagged and a ¼ mile disturbance buffer will be designated until species determination is validated. In addition, a nest stand will be delineated to protect nest site structure. Determination of restrictive periods and activity buffers will be species-specific and based upon current Forest and Regional guidance.


50 Project management restrictions for raptors

Timing – All Activities Prohibited

Timing Restriction Buffer – Activities Prohibited

Timing – Activities Permitted

Management Restriction for All Activities

Northern goshawk nest sites

April 1- September 30

Within ¼ mile of nest site

October 1 – March 31

No habitat removal or prescribed fire within 30 acres of nest stands

Occupied raptor nest sites (excluding eagles and great grey owls)

March 1 – July 31

Within 660 feet (1/4 mile)

August 1 – February 28

No management activities within 100 feet of nest sites.


51 No activities are permitted within known elk calving/rearing areas from May 1 to July 1.


52 Any barbed wire fence construction will incorporate protective design modifications for wildlife following Blue Mountain Ranger District wildlife fencing guidelines (i.e. smooth bottom wire, total height <42 inches).

Fencing


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53 Retain trees damaged during logging operations, harvest areas lacking in snag habitat, unless determined to be a safety hazard.


54 No downed logs will be marked for commercial removal. Harvest activities

55 Retain all snags not considered a danger to logging operations. Snags considered a danger to all project operations can be felled, but are to be left on site to meet wildlife and riparian restoration needs.


56 To provide for high quality habitat in bald eagle winter roosts where some aspen stands are located, protect all snags 21 inches DBH or greater. If large diameter snags located within the designated bald eagle winter roost are considered a danger to logging operations, district wildlife staff will be contacted for an on-site evaluation prior to removal. Removal of large diameter snags within the designated winter roost is prohibited without district line officer approval.


57 In order to create higher snag and dead and downed wood densities in treatment areas, the following may occur on a site-specific basis, jackstrawing of felled conifers, conifer girdling (including >21 inches DBH if appropriate to facilitate aspen regeneration), and felled conifers left on site.


58 If a waiver is requested to operate outside of the timelines and restrictions as described in the above measures, the District Wildlife Biologist and District Ranger will be consulted prior to approval.

59 Avoid ignition within 100 feet of standing dead trees (12 inches DBH or greater) and designated wildlife trees.

Prescribed burning

60 Most aspen treatments will be site-specific, but may include the following to protect wildlife habitat: direct ignition in aspen stands on a case-by-case basis and for pile burning only, and if direct ignition occurs with underburning, the stand must be fenced and wildlife breeding season restrictions will be applied. Burning within aspen stands will be avoided if extensive aspen suckering is already present.

Prescribed burning

Heritage

61 All National Register of Historic Places eligible and potentially eligible (or unevaluated) sites will be avoided/protected from any ground disturbing impacts during all project activities.


62 Slash piling, whether done by hand or with ground-based machines, will not exceed 4 x 4 x 4 feet in size and will not be placed within site boundaries; burning of slash will occur outside of site boundaries; if the placement/burning of slash within site boundaries is deemed absolutely necessary, the IDT project lead will first confer with the archaeologist/heritage specialist in order to determine the effect and potential mitigation measures, for historic sites, rare isolates, and/or features.


63 All eligible and potentially eligible (unevaluated) historic properties with structural remains or other wooden feature types will be avoided/protected during all burning activities. Eligible historic remains will be identified on the ground and proper protection measures will be conducted during the burning activities.


64 Landings will not be located within 100 feet of known cultural resource sites. Harvest activities (landings)

65 A “No Effect” determination will apply in those areas where sites and commercial logging activities coincide if the sites are avoided completely or over-snow logging is implemented. Refer to “Over-Snow Logging Treatment Plan to Avoid Adverse Effects to Lithic Dominant Archaeological Sites.”

Harvest activities

66 Inspection of large woody debris locations to determine no effect to archaeological resources.

LWD placement

67 Inspection of culvert removal and replacement on the 4920-333 road crossing.

Culvert replacement


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68 All units or proposed land treatments that require fencing to facilitate Aspen restoration that contain eligible or potentially eligible sites such as lithic scatters will utilize above ground buck and pole fencing.

Aspen fencing

69 All aspen units that contain or are adjacent to eligible and unevaluated archaeological sites will be inspected during and or after project implementation. These units are identified. Please refer to the project archaeologist that retains a FOIA exempt GIS heritage map for this project.


70 If cultural material is encountered during project activities, all work will cease immediately and a Forest heritage specialist will be contacted to evaluate the inadvertent discovery. If necessary, a mitigation plan may be developed in consultation with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office.


71 The proposed activities are included in the type of undertaking which may be excluded from a case-by-case review as defined in the Programmatic Agreement on Cultural Resource Management in Oregon (amended 2004) between the Forest Service (R-6), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, which states the following activities may occur where historic properties are not affected: “Fence construction and maintenance that does not require blading of the fence line and that does not disturb rock cairns or channel animals in transportation corridors through archaeological sites” (Appendix A, number 1); “Removing and replacing non-historic culverts that are located entirely within the road prism” (Appendix A, number 27); “Enclosures constructed for protective purposes and small study areas” (Appendix B, number1); and “Mechanized single tree salvage, post and pole harvesting, pre-commercial thinning, superior tree clearing, and maintenance” (Appendix B, number16).


Invasive Plants (Noxious Weeds)

72 Forest weed technician will inspect active gravel pits, quarry sites and borrow areas for invasive/noxious weeds before use and transport. Treatment is required of infested sources before any use of pit material.

Road maintenance

73 Conduct road blading, brushing, and ditch cleaning in areas with high concentrations of invasive/noxious weeds in consultation with Forest weed technician and incorporate invasive/noxious plant species plant prevention practices as appropriate.

Road maintenance

74 Insure all equipment and vehicles used on National Forest lands are cleaned and free of invasive/noxious weed material and seeds. Notify the Forest Service prior to moving each piece of equipment onto National Forest Lands or when moving between units by identifying the location of the most recent operations. Upon request of the Forest Service, arrangements would be made for inspection of each piece of equipment. Contractor and Forest Service shall agree on locations of cleaning and control of off-site impacts, if any.


75 Seeding would be done after ground disturbing activities in areas of known infestations to prevent new weed infestations.


76 If a noxious weed were known to spread due to burning, the weed would be appropriately treated prior to prescribed burning. Direct burning through these areas would be avoided. Avoid ignition and burning in areas at high risk for weed establishment or spread due to fire effects.

Prescribed burning

77 Minimize soil disturbance to no more than needed to meet vegetation management objectives.


78 Locate burn piles away from weed infestations. Slash treatment

Range

79 Burn piles should be located a far enough from structural improvements so as not to damage the integrity of the improvement.

Slash treatment


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80 All existing structural range improvements (fences, gates, spring developments, etc.) and permanent ecological plots would be contractually protected.


81 Protection of the structural range improvements must be maintained. If structural improvements are damaged during project operations they would be repaired to Forest Service standards prior to livestock scheduled use by the party responsible for causing the damage. Repairs would be required of the purchaser if damage was done during timber sale operations, by thinning or fuel treatment contractors or by force account where appropriate.


82 If barbed wire fences are cut or damaged and three or more splices to a single wire within a distance of 20 feet are required for repair, a single splice will be necessary for repair.


83 Fence right of ways (6 feet either side of fence), trails, other developments and access to them would be cleared of slash produced by logging or post-sale activities.


84 New aspen exclosure fences should have gates installed in proper locations to allow for removal of stray livestock. Aspen fences should be maintained prior to the start of the grazing season each year and repaired whenever necessary. Plans for aspen exclosures will define when restoration of the protected stand has been achieved and who is responsible for maintenance. When no longer needed, aspen fences shall be removed.

Aspen fencing

85 Identify available alternate water sources to ones in aspen stands. Consider development of that site to provide off-site water before fencing aspen, or re-evaluate fencing of the aspen site – coordinate with range specialist and permittee.

Aspen fencing and restoration

Botany

86 Timber harvest activities and operation of off-road vehicles and equipment shall not occur in riparian areas, wetlands, springs, seeps, and rock outcrops


87 Timber harvest and associated vegetation activities should avoid the occupied habitat of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species (minimum 100 feet buffer), unless the silvicultural prescription will benefit the species or its habitat.


88 Decking, piling of slash, or accumulations of slash shall not occur in meadows, wetlands, seeps, springs, and rock outcrops.

Slash treatment

89 Slash piles and other fuels should be managed to avoid the occupied habitat of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species (minimum 100 feet buffer).

Slash treatment

90 Off-road vehicles and equipment shall not occur in meadows when soil conditions are wet or moist (but are permitted in dry conditions or over snow).


91 Units that involve the use of heavy equipment for implementation will be prioritized for botanical surveys before ground-disturbing activities commence. If any new populations of sensitive plants are discovered, mitigations shall be developed.


92 If any new sensitive plant populations are located before, or during project implementation, a Forest Service botanist will be notified. The population will be evaluated and a mitigation plan shall be developed in consultation with the botanist.



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93 To protect sensitive plants, sensitive plant habitat, and general native plant habitat from competition with undesirable non-native species, the following standards from the Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program: Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants FEIS and the Malheur National Forest Botany Program will be incorporated into all project implementation plans and contracts:

Where the need for native plant materials is anticipated, assure that there is sufficient time for the plant materials specialist to develop a native plant materials plan and/or prescription prior to implementation of planned revegetation, rehabilitation, and restoration projects. This may include allowing for enough time to harvest and store hardwood cuttings, produce suitable quantities of native seed, and/or grow-out container stock.

Seeding and mulching when appropriate, for revegetation and/or restoration should be accomplished after ground disturbing activities (e.g., staging areas, landing zones, skid trails, and other disturbed sites).

Mulch should consist of certified weed-free bales, native plant bales, chipped or shredded slash, or conifer duff from the immediate area.

Locally adapted, genetically appropriate native plant materials are the first choice for use in revegetation, restoration, and rehabilitation; where timely regeneration of the native plant community is not likely to occur. Use a diverse assemblage of species that have the potential to occur naturally in the project area. Acquire native seed or plant sources as close to the watershed as possible.

Non-native, non-invasive plant species may be used in the following situations: (1) when needed in emergency conditions to protect basic resource values (e.g. soil stability, water quality, and to help prevent the establishment of invasive species), (2) as an interim, non-persistent measure designed to aid in the re-establishment of native plants, (3) if native plant materials are no available and/or are not economically feasible, and (4) in permanently altered plant communities.

Under no circumstances shall non-native invasive plant species and/or noxious weeds be used for revegetation.

Development, review and/or approval of revegetation, rehabilitation, and restoration prescriptions, including species selection, genetic heritage, growth stage, seed mixes, sowing guidelines, and any needed site preparation, shall be accomplished by a plant material specialist who is knowledgeable and trained or certified in the plant community where the revegetation will occur.

Newly planted and/or seeded areas should be protected from animals and activities that may prevent, retard, or slow the establishment and recovery of native vegetation. Site-specific measures may include building fences, piling slash, jackstrawing, closing areas to vehicles, and/or temporarily changing grazing regimes until the desired condition is sufficiently achieved.


Recreation

94 Notify public of prescribed burning activities prior to implementation. Prescribed burning

95 Snow plowing and haul on snowmobile routes located on Forest Service roads for harvest activities during the winter recreation season, generally Dec. 15–April 15 (though timing varies with snow conditions) would be coordinated in advance with forest recreation representatives from the Blue Mountain Ranger District. Local snowmobile clubs would be contacted and snowmobile routes that conflict with project activities would be signed. Harvest activity use would take precedence over recreation use. The following snowmobile trails have the potential to be impacted: S5098, S5113, S5115, S5096, S5097, S5099, S5100, S5101, S5114, and S5116

Harvest activities


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Visuals

96 Within approximately 150 feet of U.S. Highway 395:

Stumps would be cut flush or close to the ground where practical and always within 6 inches of the ground on the uphill side.

If after 1 year, pile-burned sites are visible from U.S. Highway 395, reburning, scattering, covering with natural duff, or masticating burned piles would be accomplished in order to minimize visual impact of management activities.

Where practical and warranted to reduce scenery or recreation-use conflicts, landings would be located off system roads.

Avoid placing skid trails within 100 feet of U.S. Highway 395 where practical.

Skid trails should be placed at different angles to each other and roads. Marking paint is to be applied to the side of the tree facing away from the

road on trees visible from U.S. Highway 395. Ribbon and signs are to be removed upon completion of the harvest unit

activities. Prior to harvest, the locations and clearing widths for all landings within 150 feet of U.S. Highway 395 will be reviewed by a Forest Service recreation specialist or landscape architect. Harvest activities in this zone must maintain a slightly altered landscape. The ground disturbance and clearing of the landings and disposal of logging debris on the landings cannot be visible from the highway and must be topographically screened.

A317, A318, and A320A

97 Within approximately 200 feet and where visible from Highway 395:

Low cut stumps as low as possible and with the cut face sloped away from the Highway.

Slash would be removed, grapple-piled and burned, or hand-piled and burned.

A317, A318, and A320A

98 Topographically screen landings from Highway 395 and locate skid trails to minimize their visibility from Highway 395 as much as possible. If it is not possible to topographically screen and minimize visibility then require winter logging.

Potentially aspen stands: A316, A317, A318, A320, and A320A


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Appendix C.2 – Project Design Criteria for Mechanical Work by Heavy Equipment within the RHCAs for Aspen Units in the Starr Aspen Project (Commercial Removal and Aquatic Restoration Placement)

Servicing and Refueling Equipment During servicing or refueling of equipment, pollutants shall not be allowed to enter any waterway, riparian area or stream course. Where possible, select service and refueling areas outside of riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) and well away from wet areas and surface water. If fueling and servicing will be done within the RHCA, it must occur on the uphill side of the road, above the active floodplain. Spill prevention, containment and countermeasures plans are required for all fueling and service activities that need to be done within the RHCAs above the road. The project contract administrator shall designate the location, size and allowable uses of service and refueling areas. The contract administrator shall be aware of actions to be taken in case of a hazardous substance spill.

The contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of all National Forest soil and water. Equipment operators shall maximize the recovery and proper disposal of all fuels, fluids, lubricants, empty containers and replacement parts. Refuse resulting from the contractor’s use, servicing, repair or abandonment of equipment shall be removed from National Forest System lands by the contractor to the appropriate disposal facilities.

Treatments Requiring Access through RHCAs No treatments are proposed within the RHCA, but access through the RHCA is needed: All roads used within the RHCA will be hydrologically functional before, during, and after treatments.

Access through the Active Floodplain Off road mechanized access through the active floodplain within fish bearing (Category 1) and perennial (Category 2) reaches or within wet meadows (Category 3) or seeps (Category 4) should only occur if no other access including temporary roads outside of the RHCA are available. There will be no new road construction within the RHCA. If crossings are necessary, they will be approved by a fisheries or hydrology resource specialist and there will be no damage to riparian hardwoods. Crossing will be designated and soils and channel must be dry or frozen. The specialist will determine that the risk of long-term (greater than 5 years) bank damage or loss of vegetation resulting from the crossing is low. Disturbance from these activities will be rehabilitated:

1. Any bank alteration or channel degradation will be returned to baseline conditions. It is expected that the baseline bank stability (including bank angle and cross-section), width:depth gradient and longitudinal gradient will be retained. Return banks and channels at skid trail crossings to pre-skid condition by re-shaping, placement of dead ground cover, and other applicable practices approved by the project hydrologist, fish biologist, soil scientist, or designate. In addition seed these segments of skid trail to accelerate establishment of live ground cover.


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2. Retain floodplain function and integrity including the natural contours. It is expected that both the floodplain quality and density of vegetative ground cover will return to baseline conditions within 1 year and the natural contours of the floodplain will be retained. Disturbance from mechanical activities will be rehabbed to assure any erosion potential from the disturbance is disconnected from the channel in order to retain the function and integrity of the channel floodplain by placing sufficient dead ground cover, including slash and fines such as needles, to meet Malheur Forest Plan standards on disturbed areas such as skid trails on either side of stream crossings within RHCAs; use a mix of material to provide both coarser “roughness” elements and fines such as needles.

Access outside the Active Floodplain in all RHCAs Soils must be dry or frozen. Loss of canopy cover will be minimized by existing openings, roads, and old skid trails. Spacing of skid trails will be determined by the Forest soil scientist. All skid trails will be designated and in areas with slopes less than 25 percent. Locate landings outside active floodplains. Limit landing size along each stream segment to an average of ¼ acre in size with maximum size of ½ acre. A fisheries or hydrology specialist may approve landings greater than an acre in situations where it would reduce the overall impact to the drainage and the total disturbance remains less than 10 percent. Rehabilitate ground disturbance from activities such as skid trails, roads, and landings will be rehabilitated to disconnect the erosion potential from the floodplain and to retain the buffering ability of the RHCA outside the active floodplain. Rehabilitation activities may include re-contouring, placement of slash, waterbars, rolling dips for roads, seeding, etc.

Treatments within the RHCA Active Floodplain Commercial and non-commercial removal of conifers for aspen restoration would occur within Category 1 and 2 RHCAs. Treatments within the RHCA (Category 1 and 2): soils must be dry or frozen and ground disturbance from activities outside of skid trails, landings, and roads will be roughened and covered with slash within the RHCA treatment unit. All roads used within the RHCA will be hydrologically functional before, during, and after treatments.

Aspen Restoration with Commercial Removal Commercial conifer removal (material 9 to 20.9 inches or <150 years old) may occur where the following criteria are met:

1. Once the associated reach has a minimum of pieces of large wood per mile identified in appendix A; with each piece being >12 inches diameter and >35 feet in length (20 percent of pieces being 20 inches in diameter) or the number associated with conifers ranging in diameter from 6 to12 inches has been added to the active stream channel. Priority is given to meeting the large woody debris (LWD) criteria >12 inches, >35 feet in length, and 20 percent of pieces being 20 inches in diameter, before utilizing smaller diameter trees to meet LWD standards.

2. Where a benefit from the restoration is identified for each associated reach in regards to its RHCA. Examples could include an increase in deciduous leaf litter, bank root strength, or canopy cover; improved fire resistance; increased fish habitat and active channel complexity; or an increase in vegetative ground cover with return of baseline canopy cover.

3. If the tree is not providing bank stability (usually identified as where the crown radius intersects the stream bank) and LWD requirements for the active channel associated with the aspen stand have been met.


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4. If small diameter conifers (<6 to12 inches) are all that is present within the aspen unit along the RHCA, the number of conifers required to meet INFISH LWD standards identified in Appendix A will require the use of the coarse woody debris (CWD) number 3.

5. Once a conifer tree is retained every 60- to70-linear feet of the active stream channel for future large wood recruitment. The tree would meet the downed large wood requirement within 20 years and at least 1/3 of its length would reach the channel.

Aspen Restoration with Non-commercial Removal Non-commercial removal and placement of conifers would occur using the following criteria:

1. Conifers within aspen units providing bank stability may be felled (hinged into active stream channel) if it is determined that adequate vegetation in the form of riparian hardwoods and hydric sedges are present to stabilize banks in the short term and the felling of the conifer will facilitate aspen clone regeneration within the exposed area. Felled conifers and conifers placed within the active stream channel will be at the range of angles specified in Figure 1 below.

2. Manipulation and positioning of felled/placed conifers within the active floodplain and active channel may occur when the ground is frozen or dry. If the use of onsite heavy equipment is not feasible for placement (i.e., soft ground, springs, seeps, etc.), trees may be left onsite to be repositioned using an all-terrain vehicle/utility-terrain vehicle (ATV/UTV) or snowmobile and a log arch. Conifers will be positioned at the angles shown in Figure 1.

3. Conifers felled within the active channel preferably will not be limbed, however if fuels build up is an issue, trees may be limbed and piled outside the active flood plain or dispersed within the stream channel and only the tree bole left to interact with the active channel and floodplain.

4. If trees greater than 4 inches diameter but less than 6 inches diameter are used for LWD, limbs are to be left attached to the bole within the active stream channel.

Machine Piling Related to Pre-commercial Treatments Grapple or other machine piling shall not occur in RHCAs. Hand pile slash within RHCAs and, when burning piles, do not permit full consumption without approval by aquatics specialist.

Commercial Treatment of Fuel Loads Relating to Large Fires None identified due to treatment of uplands.

Commercial Treatments for Riparian Enhancement None identified mainly due to lack of large wood, canopy cover, and stream temperature.

Treatments within the RHCA outside the Active Floodplain but within the INFISH RHCA Boundaries (Category 1 and 2) Minimize damage to riparian hardwoods greater than 5 feet in height. Total ground disturbance outside of roads, landings, and skid trails will be roughened and slash placed over the disturbed areas.


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Aspen Restoration with Commercial Removal Commercial conifer removal (material 9 to 20.9 inches) may occur when the following criteria are met:

1. Once the associated reach has a minimum of pieces of large wood per mile identified in Appendix A; with each piece being >12 inches diameter and >35 feet in length (20 percent of pieces being 20 inches in diameter) or the number associated with conifers ranging in diameter from 6 to 12 inches has been added to the active stream channel. Priority is given to meeting the LWD criteria >12 inches diameter, >35 feet in length, and 20 percent of pieces being 20 inches in diameter, before utilizing smaller diameter trees to meet LWD standards.

2. An expected return of baseline canopy cover from aspen clones and seedlings should occur within 15 to 20 years.

3. A benefit from the restoration will be identified for each associated reach in regards to its RHCA. Examples could include an increase in deciduous leaf litter, increased canopy cover; increased fish habitat and active channel complexity; improved fire resistance; or an increase in vegetative ground cover with return of baseline canopy cover. Indicators would include riparian management objectives identified within INFISH: pools/mile, LWD/mile, quality pools, W: D, percentage side channel, percentage shade.

Machine Piling and Piles Grapple or other machine piling shall not occur in RHCAs. Hand pile slash within RHCAs and, when burning piles, do not permit full consumption without approval by aquatics specialist.

Commercial Treatment of Fuel Loads Relating to Large Fires None identified due to treatment of uplands.

Commercial Treatments for Riparian Enhancement None identified mainly due to lack of large wood, canopy cover, and stream temperature.

Non-mechanical Work within the RHCAs

Treatments within the Active Floodplain

Prescribed Fire To retain long-term soil productivity and to reduce erosion, prescribed burning treatments shall be accomplished when the lower duff layer (decomposed organic matter) in contact with the soil surface is moist enough so a cool burn can be assured to avoid hydrophobic soil conditions. Conditions conducive to low to moderately low burn intensities will be based on the consideration of soil and fuel moistures within the active floodplain. Ignition shall be no less than 25 to 30 feet away from the active channel. Johnston et al. 2011 found that 90 percent of source LWD came from within 16 meters (60 feet) of the active stream channel. Some tree mortality is expected and trees will provide a LWD source outside of the 25 feet boundary adjacent to the active stream channel (Beche et al. 2005; Chen et al. 2005). Fire will be allowed to burn down into the floodplain with a goal of >80 percent unburned area within the 25 to 30 feet boundary between the active channel and ignition point for each burn block.

Hand piling – No hand piling will occur within 50 feet of the active channel. Piles would be located where there is adequate buffer to filter potential ash and sediment from the piles to the channel during a normal high run-off event. Where possible, retain large wood that is at least 1.5 times longer than bankfull channel width and has an end diameter of 12 inches or greater.


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Lop and scatter – Retain pieces as large as possible (8 to10 feet length, > 4 inch diameter for boles on streams <3 meters (10 feet) bankfull width) while meeting the burn objectives. Jones et al 2011 found that these dimensions were adequate for LWD to function and remain within streams <3 meters bankfull width.

Aspen Restoration Within the active floodplain of the associated reach, the retained shade /canopy closure over the reach should be, on average greater than 30 percent for category 1 through 4 RHCAs. However based on Region 6 stream surveys it is unlikely that currently 30 percent shade is present along the aspen units and therefore dropping conifers into the active channel and releasing aspen as well as riparian hardwood in addition to fencing will increase percent shade in the long term for the associated reach. All boles greater than 1.5 times bankfull (8 to 10 feet) in length and 12 inches in diameter will be retained within categories 1 and 2 RHCAs unless LWD standards are met and a tree is left within the active floodplain every 40 to 75 feet for future LWD recruitment where trees fall within tree height of the stream in forested riparian areas. LWD recruitment primarily occurs within 60 feet of the active channel (Johnston et al. 2011). The closer the proximity of the tree bole to the active channel the greater the probability of the larger diameter portion of the bole interacting with stream flow in the active channel.

Boles from felled conifers within aspen units may be bucked (8 to 10 feet in length) and piled onsite if no commercial removal is expected and no access is available for heavy machinery. An ATV/UTV and log arch will be used to move the conifer boles into the active channel

Fuel reduction and proposed activities – Felled conifers may be limbed and piled but bole will be left onsite for placement within the active stream channel and or left within the active floodplain. Bucking of conifers in the active floodplain on streams <3 meters wide would be no less than 8 to 10 feet in length for all diameter classes > 4 inches for areas where conifers are not proposed for removal.

Jackpot burning – No jackpot burning will occur within the active floodplain unless approved by a fisheries biologist or hydrologist.

Treatments within the RHCA outside of the Active Floodplain

Prescribed Fire For the retention of long-term soil productivity and to reduce erosion, prescribed burning treatments shall be accomplished when the lower duff layer (decomposed organic matter) in contact with the soil surface is moist enough so a moderately cool burn can be assured to avoid hydrophobic soil conditions. Conditions conducive to moderately low to moderate burn intensities will be based on the consideration of fuel moistures within the RHCA outside of the active floodplain. All applicable upland burning criteria will be applied to RHCAs outside of the active floodplain.

Hand Piling – No hand piling will occur within 50 feet of the active channel. The total area of the hand and jackpot piles within the RHCA burn block should not exceed 10 percent. Locate piles where there is adequate buffer to filter potential ash and sediment from the piles to the channel during a normal high run-off event. Burning of hand piles should be done in a matter that restricts the burning to the hand pile.

Lop and Scatter – Retain pieces as large as possible (8 to10 feet length, > 4inch diameter for tree boles) while meeting the burn objectives.

Tree felling (non-removal) – All boles greater than 1.5 times bankfull (approximately 10 to 15 feet) in length and 12 inches in diameter should be retained wherever possible.


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Aspen Restoration Within the RHCA of the associated reach, retained shade /canopy closure over the reach should be, on average greater than 30 percent for category 1 through 4 RHCAs. However, based on Region 6 stream surveys it is unlikely that currently 30 percent shade is present along the aspen units and therefore dropping conifers into the active channel and releasing aspen as well as riparian hardwood in addition to fencing will increase percent shade in the long term for the associated reach. All boles greater than 1.5 time bankfull in length (approximately 10 to 15 feet) and 12 inches in diameter will be retained within categories1 through 2 RHCAs until LWD standards are met within the associated reach.

Fuel reduction and proposed activities – Within the RHCA of the associated reach, the retained shade/canopy closure over the drainage should be, on average between 40–55 percent for ponderosa pine series and between 50–65 percent for mixed conifer series (Amendment 29). All boles greater than 1.5 time bankfull (10 to 15 feet from streams <3m) in length and 12 inches in diameter will be retained within categories 1 through 2 RHCAs until LWD requirements are met within the aspen unit RHCA.

Jackpot burning – Jackpot burning within the RHCA should be avoided where possible. If jackpot piles are needed in Category 1 RHCAs, they must be approved by a fisheries biologist or hydrologist. Other methods such as lop and scatter should be considered. No jackpot piling will occur within 50 feet of the active channel. The total area of the handpiles and jackpot piles within the RHCA burn block should not exceed 10 percent. Locate piles where there is adequate buffer to filter potential ash and sediment from the piles to the channel during a normal high run-off event.

Figure 1. Where possible, conifers would be dropped diagonal to the stream channel at angles of (31–60○ or 120–150○ or 211–240○ or 301–330○) (Jones et al. 2011), or positioned to be within the range of angles above.

Avoid felling of conifers perpendicular to the active stream channel (180○).

31–60○ 120–150○

Stream bank (green)

301–330○ 211–240○

Active Stream Channel (blue)

Active Stream Channel (blue)

Left bank (upstream)

Right bank (upstream)

(Stream flow)

(Stream flow)


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Appendix C.3 – Additional Project Design Criteria and General Aquatic Conservation Measures Information in this section pertains to aquatic restoration and aspen restoration activities associated with aspen units in the Starr Aspen Project included within the ARBO II. Developed by: Endangered Species Act – Section 7 Programmatic Consultation Conference and Biological Opinion and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for Reinitiation of Aquatic Restoration Activities in States of Oregon and Washington (ARBO II).

Proposed Action “Action” means all activities or programs of any kind authorized, funded, or carried out, in whole or in part, by Federal agencies. Interrelated actions are those that are part of a larger action and depend on the larger action for their justification. Interdependent actions are those that have no independent utility apart from the action under consideration.

For purposes of this consultation, the proposed action is to fund or carry out 20 categories of restoration actions on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administrative lands in Oregon and Washington and on the Coquille Indian Reservation in Oregon and private lands, where actions help achieve Forest Service or BLM aquatic restoration goals. Non-Federal land projects must follow all elements of the proposed action described in this opinion for aquatic restoration (ARBO II). The action agencies will ensure that actions on non-Federal land covered under this programmatic consultation undergo the same process and compliance as projects occurring on action agency land. The action agencies shall retain discretion over the private land action to ameliorate any unexpected adverse effects during and after project implementation.

Project Categories that Apply to Activities within the Starr Aspen Project Area

1. Fish passage restoration (stream simulation culvert and bridge projects; headcut and grade stabilization; fish ladders; irrigation diversion replacement/relocation and screen installation/replacement)

2. Large wood (LW), boulder, and gravel placement (LW and boulder projects; engineered logjams; porous boulder weirs and vanes, gravel augmentation; tree removal for LW projects)

3. Legacy structure removal 4. Riparian vegetative planting 5. Beaver habitat restoration

General Aquatic Conservation Measures

Technical Skill and Planning Requirements 1. Ensure that an experienced fisheries biologist or hydrologist is involved in the design of all

projects covered by this opinion. The experience should be commensurate with technical requirements of a project.

2. Planning and design includes field evaluations and site-specific surveys, which may include reference-reach evaluations that describe the appropriate geomorphic context in which to implement the project. Planning and design involves appropriate expertise from staff or experienced technicians (e.g., fisheries biologist, hydrologist, geomorphologist, wildlife biologist, botanist, engineer, silviculturist, fire/fuels specialists).


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3. The project fisheries biologist/hydrologist will ensure that project design criteria are incorporated into implementation contracts. If a biologist or hydrologist is not the Contracting Officer Representative, then the biologist or hydrologist must regularly coordinate with the project Contracting Officer Representative to ensure the project design criteria and conservation measures are being followed.

In-Water Work Period Follow the appropriate state guidelines (ODFW 2008; WDFW 2010) or most recent guidelines for timing of in-water work. If work occurs in occupied Oregon chub habitat, in-water work will not occur between June 1 and August 15. In those few instances when projects will be implemented in California, Idaho, or Nevada, follow appropriate state guidelines. The action agencies will request exceptions to in-water work windows through Level 1 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) representatives as well as essential state agencies. For National Forests in the state of Washington, the Forest Service will work with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to determine in-water work periods, using the process contained in the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding between the WDFW and USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region regarding hydraulic projects conducted by the Forest Service (WDFW and USDA-Forest Service 2012).

Fish Passage Fish passage will be provided for any adult or juvenile fish likely to be present in the action area during construction, unless passage did not exist before construction, stream isolation and dewatering is required during project implementation, or where the stream reach is naturally impassible at the time of construction. After construction, adult and juvenile passage that meets NMFS’s fish passage criteria (NMFS 2011e) will be provided for the life of the structure.

Pollution and Erosion Control Measures Implement the following pollution and erosion control measures:

1. Identify a project contact (name, phone number, an address) that will be responsible for implementing pollution and erosion control measures.

2. List and describe any hazardous material that would be used at the project site, including procedures for inventory, storage, handling, and monitoring; notification procedures; specific clean-up and disposal instructions for different products available on the site; proposed methods for disposal of spilled material; and employee training for spill containment.

3. Temporarily store any waste liquids generated at the staging areas under cover on an impervious surface, such as tarpaulins, until such time they can be properly transported to and treated at an approved facility for treatment of hazardous materials.

4. Procedures based on best management practices to confine, remove, and dispose of construction waste, including every type of debris, discharge water, concrete, cement, grout, washout facility, welding slag, petroleum product, or other hazardous materials generated, used, or stored on-site.

5. Procedures to contain and control a spill of any hazardous material generated, used or stored on-site, including notification of proper authorities. Ensure that materials for emergency erosion and hazardous materials control are onsite (e.g., silt fence, straw bales, oil-absorbing floating boom whenever surface water is present).

6. Best management practices to confine vegetation and soil disturbance to the minimum area, and minimum length of time, as necessary to complete the action, and otherwise prevent or minimize erosion associated with the action area.

7. Uncured concrete or form materials will not be allowed to enter the active stream channel. 8. Steps to cease work under high flows, except for efforts to avoid or minimize resource damage.


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Site Preparation

Flagging Sensitive Areas Prior to construction, clearly mark critical riparian vegetation areas, wetlands, and other sensitive sites to minimize ground disturbance.

Staging Area Establish staging areas for storage of vehicles, equipment, and fuels to minimize erosion into or contamination of streams and floodplains.

No Topographical Restrictions

Place staging area 150 feet or more from any natural water body or wetland in areas where topography does not restrict such a distance.

Topographical Restrictions

Place staging area away from any natural water body or wetland to the greatest extent possible in areas with high topographical restriction, such as constricted valley types.

Temporary Erosion Controls Place sediment barriers prior to construction around sites where significant levels of erosion may enter the stream directly or through road ditches. Temporary erosion controls will be in place before any significant alteration of the action site and will be removed once the site has been stabilized following construction activities.

Stockpile Materials Minimize clearing and grubbing activities when preparing staging, project, and or stockpile areas. Any LW, topsoil, and native channel material displaced by construction will be stockpiled for use during site restoration. Materials used for implementation of aquatic restoration categories (e.g., LW, boulders, fencing material) may be staged within the 100-year floodplain.

Hazard Trees Where appropriate, include hazard tree removal (amount and type) in project design. Fell hazard trees when they pose a safety risk. If possible, fell hazard trees within riparian areas towards a stream. Keep felled trees on site when needed to meet coarse LW objectives.

Heavy Equipment Use

Choice of Equipment Heavy equipment will be commensurate with the project and operated in a manner that minimizes adverse effects to the environment (e.g., minimally-sized, low pressure tires, minimal hard turn paths for tracked vehicles, temporary mats or plates within wet areas or sensitive soils).

Fueling, Cleaning, and Inspection for Petroleum Products and Invasive Weeds 1. All equipment used for instream work will be cleaned for petroleum accumulations, dirt, plant

material (to prevent the spread of noxious weeds), and leaks repaired prior to entering the project area. Such equipment includes large machinery, stationary power equipment (e.g., generators, canes), and gas-powered equipment with tanks larger than five gallons.


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2. Store and fuel equipment in staging areas after daily use. 3. Inspect daily for fluid leaks before leaving the vehicle staging area for operation. 4. Thoroughly clean equipment before operation below ordinary high water or within 50 feet of any

natural water body or areas that drain directly to streams or wetlands and as often as necessary during operation to remain grease free.

Stream Crossings Minimize number and length of stream crossings. Such crossings will be at right angles and avoid potential spawning areas to the greatest extent possible. Stream crossings shall not increase the risk of channel re-routing at low and high water conditions. After project completion, temporary stream crossings will be abandoned and the stream channel and banks restored.

Work from Top of Bank To the extent feasible, heavy equipment will work from the top of the bank, unless work instream would result in less damage to the aquatic ecosystem.

Timely Completion Minimize time in which heavy equipment is in stream channels, riparian areas, and wetlands. Complete earthwork (including drilling, excavation, dredging, filling and compacting) as quickly as possible. During excavation, stockpile native streambed materials above the bankfull elevation, where it cannot reenter the stream, for later use.

Site Restoration

Initiate Rehabilitation Upon project completion, rehabilitate all disturbed areas in a manner that results in similar or better than pre-work conditions through removal of project related waste, spreading of stockpiled materials (soil, LW, trees, etc.) seeding, or planting with local native seed mixes or plants.

Short-Term Stabilization Measures may include the use of non-native sterile seed mix (when native seeds are not available), weed-free certified straw, jute matting, and other similar techniques. Short-term stabilization measures will be maintained until permanent erosion control measures are effective. Stabilization measures will be instigated within three days of construction completion.

Revegetation Replant each area requiring revegetation prior to or at the beginning of the first growing season following construction. Achieve reestablishment of vegetation in disturbed areas to at least 70 percent of pre-project levels within three years. Use an appropriate mix of species that will achieve establishment and erosion control objectives, preferably forb, grass, shrub, or tree species native to the project area or region and appropriate to the site. Barriers will be installed as necessary to prevent access to revegetated sites by livestock or unauthorized persons.

Planting Manuals All riparian plantings shall follow Forest Service direction described in the Regional letter to Units, Use of Native and Nonnative Plants on National Forests and Grasslands May 2006 (Final Draft), and or BLM Instruction Memorandum No. OR-2001-014, Policy on the Use of Native Species Plant Material.


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Monitoring Monitoring will be conducted by action agency staff, as appropriate for that project, during and after a project to track effects and compliance with this opinion.

Implementation 1. Visually monitor during project implementation to ensure effects are not greater (amount, extent)

than anticipated and to contact Level 1 representatives if problems arise. 2. Fix any problems that arise during project implementation. 3. Regular biologist/hydrologist coordination if biologist/hydrologist is not always on site to ensure

contractor is following all stipulations.

401 Certification To minimize short-term degradation to water quality during project implementation, follow current 401 Certification provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act for maintenance or water quality standards described by the following: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Oregon BLM, Forest Service, and BIA); Washington Department of Ecology (Washington BLM); and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Forest Service regarding Hydraulic Projects Conducted by Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (WDFW and USDA-Forest Service 2012); California, Idaho, or Nevada 401 Certification protocols (BLM and Forest Service).

Post Project A post-project review shall be conducted after winter and spring high flows.

1. For each project, conduct a walk through/visual observation to determine if there are post-project affects that were not considered during consultation. For fish passage and revegetation projects, monitor in the following manner:

a. Fish Passage Projects – Note any problems with channel scour or bedload deposition, substrate, discontinuous flow, vegetation establishment, or invasive plant infestation.

b. Revegetation – For all plant treatment projects, including site restoration, monitor for and remove invasive plants until native plants become established.

c. In cases where remedial action is required, such actions are permitted without additional consultation if they use relevant project design criteria and aquatic conservation measures and the effects of the action categories are not exceeded.

Project Design Criteria for Aquatic Restoration Activity Categories ARBO II

Fish Passage Restoration Fish passage restoration includes the following: total removal of culverts or bridges, or replacing culverts or bridges with properly sized culverts and bridges, replacing a damaged culvert or bridge, and resetting an existing culvert that was improperly installed or damaged; stabilizing and providing passage over headcuts; removing, constructing (including relocations), repairing, or maintaining fish ladders; and constructing or replacing fish screens for irrigation diversions. Such projects will take place where fish passage has been partially or completely eliminated through road construction, stream degradation, creation of small dams and weirs, and irrigation diversions. Equipment such as excavators, bull dozers, dump trucks, front-end loaders, and similar equipment may be used to implement projects.


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Stream Simulation Culvert and Bridge Projects All road-stream crossing structures shall simulate stream channel conditions per Stream Simulation: An Ecological Approach to Providing Passage for Aquatic Organisms at Road-Stream Crossings (USDA-Forest Service 2008), located at: http://stream.fs.fed.us/fishxing/aop_pdfs.html.

Culvert Criteria

Within the considerations of stream simulation, the structure shall, at a minimum, accommodate a bankfull wide channel plus constructed banks to provide for passage of all life stages of native fish species. The following crossing-width guidance applies to specific ranges of entrenchment ratios as defined by Rosgen (1996):

Non-Entrenched Streams

If a stream is not fully entrenched (entrenchment ratio of greater than 1.4), the minimum culvert width shall be at least 1.3 times the bankfull channel width. This is consistent with Anadromous Salmonid Passage Facility Design (section 7.4.2 “Stream Simulation Design”) (NMFS 2011e).

Entrenched Streams

If a stream is entrenched (entrenchment ratio of less than 1.4), the culvert width must be greater than bankfull channel width, allow sufficient vertical clearance to allow ease of construction and maintenance activities, and provide adequate room for the construction of natural channel banks. Consideration should be given to accommodate the floodprone width. Floodprone width is the width measured at twice the maximum bankfull depth (Rosgen 1996).

Headcut and Grade Stabilization – Headcuts often occur in meadow areas, typically on Rosgen “C” and “E” channel types. Headcuts develop and migrate during bankfull and larger floods, when the sinuous path of Rosgen E type streams may become unstable in erosive, alluvial sediments, causing avulsions, meander cut-offs, bank failure, and development of an entrenched Rosgen G gully channel (Rosgen 1994).

Stabilize Headcuts

1. In streams with current or historic fish presence, provide fish passage over stabilized headcut through constructed riffles for pool/riffle streams or a series of log or rock structures for step/pool channels as described in part ii below.

2. Armor headcut with sufficiently sized and amounts of material to prevent continued up-stream migration of the headcut. Materials can include both rock and organic materials which are native to the area. Material shall not contain gabion baskets, sheet pile, concrete, articulated concrete block, and cable anchors.

3. Focus stabilization efforts in the plunge pool, the headcut, as well as a short distance of stream above the headcut.

4. Minimize lateral migration of channel around headcut (“flanking”) by placing rocks and organic material at a lower elevation in the center of the channel cross section to direct flows to the middle of channel.

5. Short-term headcut stabilization (including emergency stabilization projects) may occur without associated fish passage measures. However, fish passage must be incorporated into the final headcut stabilization action and be completed during the first subsequent in-water work period.

6. In streams without current or historic fish presence, it is recommended to construct a series of downstream log or rock structures to expedite channel aggradation.


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Grade Stabilization to Promote Fish Passage Associated with Headcut Stabilization

1. NMFS fish passage review and approve – If a grade stabilization structure spans the channel and creates one or more discrete longitudinal drops > 6 inches, the action agencies will ensure that the action is individually reviewed and approved by the NMFS, for consistency with criteria in Anadromous Salmonid Passage Facility Design (NMFS 2011e).

2. Provide fish passage over stabilized headcut through constructed riffles for pool/riffle streams or a series of log or rock structures for step/pool channels. If LW and boulder placement will be used for headcut stabilization, refer to large wood, boulder, and gravel placement project design criteria discussed below.

3. Construct structures in a ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape, oriented with the apex upstream, and lower in the center to direct flows to the middle of channel.

4. Key structures into the stream bed to minimize structure undermining due to scour, preferably at least 2.5 times their exposure height. The structures should also be keyed into both banks—if feasible greater than 8 feet.

5. If several structures will be used in series, space them at the appropriate distances to promote fish passage of all life stages of native fish. Incorporate NMFS fish passage criteria (jump height, pool depth, etc.) in the design of step structures. Recommended spacing should be no closer than the net drop divided by the channel slope (for example, a one-foot high step structure in a stream with a two-percent gradient will have a minimum spacing of 50 feet [1/0.02]).

6. Include gradated (cobble to fine) material in the rock structure material mix to help seal the structure/channel bed, thereby preventing subsurface flow and ensuring fish passage immediately following construction if natural flows are sufficient.

7. If a project involves the removal of multiple barriers on one stream or in one watershed over the course of a work season, remove the most upstream barrier first if possible.

Large Wood, Boulder, and Gravel Placement Large wood, boulder, and gravel placement includes LW and boulder placement, porous boulder structures and vanes, gravel placement, and tree removal for LW projects. Such activities will occur in areas where channel structure is lacking due to past stream cleaning (LW removal), riparian timber harvest, and in areas where natural gravel supplies are low due to anthropogenic disruptions. These projects will occur in stream channels and adjacent floodplains to increase channel stability, rearing habitat, pool formation, spawning gravel deposition, channel complexity, hiding cover, low velocity areas, and floodplain function. Equipment such as helicopters, excavators, dump trucks, front-end loaders, full-suspension yarders, and similar equipment may be used to implement projects.

Large Wood and Boulder Projects 1. Place LW and boulders in areas where they would naturally occur and in a manner that closely

mimic natural accumulations for that particular stream type. For example, boulder placement may not be appropriate in low gradient meadow streams.

2. Structure types shall simulate disturbance events to the greatest degree possible and include, but are not limited to, log jams, debris flows, windthrow, and tree breakage.

3. No limits are to be placed on the size or shape of structures as long as such structures are within the range of natural variability of a given location and do not block fish passage.

4. Projects can include grade control and bank stabilization structures, while size and configuration of such structures will be commensurate with scale of project site and hydraulic forces.


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5. The partial burial of LW and boulders is permitted and may constitute the dominant means of placement. This applies to all stream systems but more so for larger stream systems where use of adjacent riparian trees or channel features is not feasible or does not provide the full stability desired.

6. LW includes whole conifer and hardwood trees, logs, and rootwads. LW size (diameter and length) should account for bankfull width and stream discharge rates. When available, trees with rootwads should be a minimum of 1.5 times bankfull channel width, while logs without rootwads should be a minimum of 2.0 times bankfull width.

7. Structures may partially or completely span stream channels or be positioned along stream banks. 8. Stabilizing or key pieces of LW must be intact, hard, with little decay, and if possible have root

wads (untrimmed) to provide functional refugia habitat for fish. Consider orienting key pieces such that the hydraulic forces upon the LW increases stability.

9. Anchoring LW alternatives may be used in preferential order: a. Use of adequate sized wood sufficient for stability. b. Orient and place wood in such a way that movement is limited. c. Ballast (gravel or rock) to increase the mass of the structure to resist movement. d. Use of large boulders as anchor points for the LW. e. Pin LW with rebar to large rock to increase its weight. For streams that are entrenched

(Rosgen F, G, A, and potentially B) or for other streams with very low width to depth ratios (<12) an additional 60 percent ballast weight may be necessary due to greater flow depths and higher velocities.

Tree Removal for Large Wood Projects 1. Live conifers and other trees can be felled or pulled/pushed over in a Northwest Forest Plan

(USDA and USDI 1994a) Riparian Reserve or PACFISH/INFISH (USDA-Forest Service 1995; USDA and USDI 1994b) riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) and upland area (e.g., late successional reserves or adaptive management areas for northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet critical habitat) for in-channel LW placement, only when conifers and trees are fully stocked. Tree felling shall not create excessive stream bank erosion or increase the likelihood of channel avulsion during high flows.

2. Danger trees and trees killed through fire, insects, disease, blow-down and other means can be felled and used for in-channel placement regardless of live-tree stocking levels.

3. Trees may be removed by cable, ground-based equipment, horses or helicopters. 4. Trees may be felled or pushed/pulled directly into a stream or floodplain. 5. Trees may be stock piled for future instream restoration projects. 6. The project manager for an aquatic restoration action will coordinate with an action-agency

wildlife biologist in tree-removal planning efforts.

Legacy Structure Removal Legacy structure removal includes removal of dams, tidegates, channel-spanning weirs, legacy habitat structures, earthen embankments, subsurface drainage features, spillway systems, outfalls, pipes, instream flow redirection structures (e.g., drop structure, gabion, groin), or similar devices used to control, discharge, or maintain water levels. Projects will be implemented to reconnect stream corridors, floodplains, and estuaries, reestablish wetlands, improve aquatic organism passage, and restore more natural channel and flow conditions. Any instream water control structures that impound substantial amounts of contaminated sediment are not proposed. Equipment such as excavators, bull dozers, dump trucks, front-end loaders, and similar equipment may be used to implement projects.


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Removal of Legacy Structures This action includes the removal of past projects, such as LW, boulder, rock gabions, and other in-channel and floodplain structures.

1. If the structure being removed contains material (LW, boulders, concrete, etc.) not typically found within the stream or floodplain at that site, remove material from the 100-year floodplain.

2. If the structure being removed contains material (e.g., LW, boulders) that is typically found within the stream or floodplain at that site, the material can be reused to implement habitat improvements described under the large wood, boulder, and gravel placement activity category in this opinion.

3. If the structure being removed is keyed into the bank, fill in “key” holes with native materials to restore contours of stream bank and floodplain. Compact the fill material adequately to prevent washing out of the soil during over-bank flooding. Do not mine material from the stream channel to fill in “key” holes.

4. When removal of buried log structures may result in significant disruption to riparian vegetation or the floodplain, consider using a chainsaw to extract the portion of log within the channel and leaving the buried sections within the streambank.

5. If a project involves the removal of multiple barriers on one stream or in one watershed over the course of a work season, remove the most upstream barrier first if possible.

6. If the legacy structures (log, rock, or gabion weirs) were placed to provide grade control, evaluate the site for potential headcutting and incision due to structure removal. If headcutting and channel incision are likely to occur due to structure removal, additional measures must be taken to reduce these impacts.

7. If the structure is being removed because it has caused an over-widening of the channel, consider implementing other ARBO II restoration categories to decrease the width to depth ratio of the stream to a level commensurate with the geomorphic setting.

Livestock Fencing, Stream Crossings and Off-Channel Livestock Watering Facilities Livestock fencing, stream crossings and off-channel livestock watering facilities projects will be implemented by constructing fences to exclude riparian grazing, providing controlled access for walkways that livestock use to transit across streams and through riparian areas, and reducing livestock use in riparian areas and stream channels by providing upslope water facilities. Such projects promote a balanced approach to livestock use in riparian areas, reducing livestock impacts to riparian soils and vegetation, streambanks, channel substrates, and water quality. Equipment such as excavators, bull dozers, dump trucks, front-end loaders, and similar equipment may be used to implement projects.

Livestock Fencing 1. Fence placement must allow for lateral movement of a stream and to allow establishment of

riparian plant species. To the extent possible, fences will be placed outside the channel migration zone.

2. Minimize vegetation removal, especially potential LW recruitment sources, when constructing fence lines.

3. Where appropriate, construct fences at water gaps in a manner that allows passage of LW and other debris.


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Riparian Vegetation Treatment (controlled burning) Riparian vegetation treatment (controlled burning) includes reintroduction of low and moderate-severity fire into riparian areas to help restore plant species composition and structure that would occur under natural fire regimes in dry forest types east of the Cascade mountains and in southwestern Oregon. Additionally, controlled burns may be implemented in localized lowland areas in western Oregon, i.e., oak woodlands. Conifer thinning may be required to adjust fuel loads for moderate-severity burns to regenerate deciduous trees and shrubs. Equipment would include drip torches and chainsaws, along with fire suppression vehicles and equipment.

Low and Moderate Severity Burns 1. Experienced fuels specialists, silviculturists, fisheries biologist, and hydrologists shall be

involved in designing prescribed burn treatments. 2. Prescriptions will focus on restoring the plant species composition and structure that would occur

under natural fire regimes. 3. Burn plans are required for each action and shall include, but not be limited to the following: a

description of existing and desired future fire classifications, existing and target stand structure and species composition (including basis for target conditions); other ecological objectives, type, severity, area, and timing of proposed burn; and measures to prevent destruction of vegetation providing shade and other ecological functions important to fish habitat.

4. Low-severity burns will be used except where the objective is to restore deciduous trees, with a goal of creating a mosaic pattern of burned and unburned landscape. Low severity burns are characterized by the following: Low soil heating or light ground char occurs where litter is scorched, charred, or consumed, but the duff is left largely intact. LW accumulation is partially consumed or charred. Mineral soil is not changed. Minimal numbers of trees, typically pole/saplings, will be killed.

5. Moderate-severity burns are permitted only where needed to invigorate decadent aspen stands, willows, and other native deciduous species and may be targeted in no more than 20 percent of the area within RHCAs or Riparian Reserves/6th field HUC/year. Such burns shall be contained within the observable historical boundaries of the aspen stand, willow site, other deciduous species, and associated meadows; additional area outside of the “historical boundaries” may be added to create controllable burn boundaries. Moderate severity are characterized by the following: Moderate soil heating or moderate ground char occurs where the litter on forest sites is consumed and the duff is deeply charred or consumed, but the underlying mineral soil surface is not visibly altered. Light colored ash is present. LW is mostly consumed, except for logs, which are deeply charred.

6. Fire lines will be limited to 5 feet in width, constructed with erosion control structures, such as water bars, and restored to pre-project conditions before the winter following the controlled fire. To the extent possible, do not remove vegetation providing stream shade or other ecological functions that are important to streams.

7. Ignition can occur anywhere within the Riparian Reserve and RHCAs area as long as project design criteria are met.

8. Avoid water withdrawals from fish bearing streams whenever possible. Water drafting must take no more than 10 percent of the stream flow and must not dewater the channel to the point of isolating fish. Pump intakes shall have fish screens consistent with NMFS fish screening criteria (NMFS2011e).


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Riparian Vegetation Planting Riparian vegetation planting includes the planting of native riparian species that would occur under natural disturbance regimes. Activities may include the following: planting conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs; placement of sedge and or rush mats; gathering and planting willow cuttings. The resulting benefits to the aquatic system can include desired levels of stream shade, bank stability, stream nutrients, LW inputs, increased grasses, forbs, and shrubs, and reduced soil erosion. Equipment may include excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, power augers, chainsaws, and manual tools.

1. Experienced silviculturists, botanists, ecologists, or associated technicians shall be involved in designing vegetation treatments.

2. Species to be planted will be of the same species that naturally occur in the project area. Acquire native seed or plant sources as close to the watershed as possible.

3. Tree and shrub species, willow cuttings, as well as sedge and rush mats to be used as transplant material shall come from outside the bankfull width, typically in terraces (abandoned flood plains), or where such plants are abundant.

4. Sedge and rush mats should be sized to prevent their movement during high flow events. 5. Concentrate plantings above the bankfull elevation. 6. Removal of native and non-native vegetation that will compete with plantings is permitted. 7. Exclosure fencing to prevent utilization of plantings by deer, elk, and livestock is permitted.

Beaver Habitat Restoration Beaver habitat restoration includes installation of in-channel structures to encourage beavers to build dams in incised channels and across potential floodplain surfaces. The dams are expected to entrain substrate, aggrade the bottom, and reconnect the stream to the floodplain.

In-Channel Structures 1. Consist of porous channel-spanning structures comprised of biodegradable vertical posts (beaver

dam support structures) approximately 0.5 to 1meter apart and at a height intended to act as the crest elevation of an active beaver dam. Variation of this restoration treatment may include post lines only, post lines with wicker weaves, construction of starter dams, reinforcement of existing active beaver dams, and reinforcement of abandoned beaver dams (Pollock et al. 2012).

2. Place beaver dam support structures in areas conducive to dam construction as determined by stream gradient or historical beaver use.

3. Place in areas with sufficient deciduous shrub and trees to promote sustained beaver occupancy.

Habitat Restoration 1. Beaver restoration activities may include planting riparian hardwoods (species such as willow,

red osier dogwood, and alder) and building exclosures (such as temporary fences) to protect and enhance existing planted riparian hardwoods until they are established (Malheur National Forest and the Keystone Project 2007).

2. Maintain or develop grazing plans that will ensure the success of beaver habitat restoration objectives.

3. As a means to restore desired vegetation (e.g., aspen, willow, alder, and cottonwood) associated with quality beaver habitat, follow project design criteria in the Riparian Vegetation Treatment (controlled burning) b. Noncommercial thinning associated with Moderate-severity burns category.

Starr Aspen Project Final Environmental Assessment (FEA)a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · Starr Aspen Project Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) Appendix C

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